Device for raising and tipping containers



1964 M. J. CHRISTIANSEN DEVICE FOR RAISING AND TIPPING CONTAINERS 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 16, 1962 INVENTOR EN,deceased, HE E. CHRISTIANSEMexecutnx ATTOP 40 M.J.CHRISTIANS EN BLANC Feb. 18, 1964 M. J. CHRISTIANSEN DEVICE FOR RAISING AND TIPPING CONTAINERS 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 16, 1962 INVENTOR STIANSEN, deceased, J bY BLANCHE E.CHR\STIANSEN,executnx M.J.CHRI

Cl. Q. W}, BY ATTOQNEE 1954 M. J. CHRISTIANSEN 3,

DEVICE FOR RAISING AND TIPPING CONTAINERS Filed April 16, 1962 3 h ts-Sh 5 55 l I 50 55 I so 1 51 511' Jf EF- 1 4D I o 6 1 o 45 K t I I 47 2 '22 40 J 3 48 eel 29 49 'r L l I z I il IIIH 42 l-llllii 2a 46 \NVENTOR 55 M.J. CHRISTIANSEN,aLeceased, bY BLANCHE E.CHPI5TIANSEN,8XECUT.TIX

ATTORNE United States Patent This invention relates to an apparatus for raising and tipping containers, and more particularly to a device for raising pans of piece parts from a lower level beneath a work bench to a level above the work bench and for tipping the pan to empty the contents thereof onto the bench.

An object of the invention is to provide an improved device for rai -ng and tipping containers.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved device for raising containers from a lower level below a work bench to an upper level above the work bench and for tipping the container to empty the contents thereof onto the work bench.

A device illustrating certain aspects of the invention may include an elevator carriage slidably supported on vertical guides of a fixed frame, and a drive mechanism for moving the carriage vertically from a normal lower position at a level beneath a Work bench to a level above the work bench. A carrier for supporting a container of piece parts thereon is mounted on the carriage in a normal horizontal position for vertical movement with the carriage and for pivotal movement relative thereto about a horizontal axis. A gear fixedly secured to the carrier concentric with the axis is engageable with a rack bar mounted on one of the guide members in the path of upward movement of the gear and in a predetermined position above the gear when the carriage is in its normal lower position. in response to upward movement of the elevator carriage, the carrier and the container is moved upwardly therewith in horizontal position to a predetermined level above the work bench at which time the gear engages the stationary rack bar and imparts turning movement to the carrier and the container thereon to vertical position to cause the contents of the container to empty onto the bench.

Other objects, advantages and novel aspects of the invention will become apparent upon consideration of the following detailed description, in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary vertical longitudinal sectional View of the device for raising and tipping containers embodyin g the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the raising and tipping device;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary horizontal sectional View of the device taken on line 33 of FIG. 1;

PEG. 4 is a perspective view of the elevator carriage of the device showing a carrier pivotally supported on the carriage in an intermediate position; and

FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary horizontal sectional view of the device taken on line S5 of FIG. 1.

The present device is designed to receive tote pans 15 of piece parts from a conveyor 16 at a predetermined level below a work bench i i and to raise the pan of piece parts to a level above the work bench and then rotate the pan about a horizontal axis to a vertical position to effect the emptying of the piece parts from the pan onto the work bench 14'.

Generally, the device comprises a stationary frame 29 mounted on a base 21 and including a plurality of vertically disposed tubular guides 22 for guiding an elevator carriage 24 for vertical movement. Mounted on the carriage 24 in a normal horizontal position is a carrier 2% for supporting the pan 15 of piece parts thereon for vertical movement with the elevator carriage 24. The carrier ice 2-6 is fixed to a shaft 23 which is journalled in the carriage 24 and supports the carrier for pivotable movement about the axis of the shaft. Two gears 29 are also fixed to the shaft 28 and are adapted to engage and mesh with the gear teeth of a pair of rack bars 3% secured to a pair of vertical guides 22 at a level spaced above the normal lower position of the carriage 24.

Vertical movement is imparted to the elevator carriage 24- by a drive mechanism on the upper part of the frame it). In response to the upward movement of the elevator carriage 24, the carrier 26 and the pan 15 of piece parts is raised therewith to a level above the Work bench 14 during the latter portion of which movement the gears mesh with the stationary racks 3t and cause the pivotal movement of the carrier 26 and the pan 15 to a vertical position to etiect the emptying of the contents of the pan onto the work bench 14.

The vertically disposed tubular guides 22 of the frame 2t? are secured to each other by suitable transverse frame members including upper and lower horizontally disposed frame plates 36 and 37, respectively, and a pair of vertical sides dates at the upper portion of the frame. As shown particularly in FIG. 4-, the elevator carriage 24 comprises four tubular elements or legs 49 slidable within the tubular guides 22- for vertical movement and connected to each other by a pair of side plates 42 and a transverse cross member Longitudinally extending slots 45 (FIGS. 4 and 5) in the tubular guides 22 of the frame 2%? provide clearance for movement of the side plates 42. Bearings secured to the side plates 42 support the shaft in its normal lower position the elevator carriage 24 is supported by the tubular legs 4% which rest on the lower horizontal frame plate 57.

The carrier 26 includes a pair of side frames 47 of L-shaped cross section secured together in spaced relation to each other by a pair of cross members 48 and having at one end a pair of blocks 49 for receiving the shaft 28 therein. The shaft 225 is fixedly secured to the blocks and to the gears 29. Extending between the side frames 4'7 and rotatably supported thereby is a row of rollers 5b which serve as a platform for supporting the pan id of piece parts thereon. At one end of the carrier an, adjacent to the shaft 26, a vertically disposed plate 51 is secured to and extends between the side frames. 47. As shown in FIG. 1, the side frames 47 and the end plate 51 extend upwardly above the upper surface of the rollers 59 to retain the pan 15 on the carrier during the tilting movement of the carrier as.

Supported on the upper end of the fname 20 is a drive mechanism 5% for raising and lowering the elevator carriage. The drive mechanism includes a plurality of chains 55 which extend withi the tubular guides 22 and are secured to the upper ends of the tubular members 46 of the carriage. The upper portions of .the chains 55 pass around idler spree :ets suitably supported on the upper ends of the tubular guides 22. and are secured to a pair of sprocket Wheels 57, with a pair of the chains secured to each sprocket in dianetrically opposed relation to one another. The sprocket Wheels 57 are secured to a shaft which is supported at opposite ends in bearings 59 on the vertical side plates of the frame 20. Rotation is imparted to the shaft 58 by a reversible motor 62 which is operatively connected to the shaft 58 through a speed reducing transmission 63 and is connected to a source of electrical power through a control switch (not shown).

in the operation out the device with the elevator carriage 24 in its normal lower position, a pan l5 of piece parts is manually transferred from the horizontal conveyor 16 onto the rollers Stl of the carrier 26 and the control switch is operated to actuate the motor 62 in one direction. This causes the sprocket wheels 57 to wind hereon portions of the chains 55 and effect the upward movement of the elevator carriage 24 to a predetermined upper position at which point a switch 65 (H6. 2) is actuated by a cam 66 on the shaft 53 to stop the motor 62.

As the carriage 24 moves upwardly, the carrier 26 and the pan 15 are moved upwardly therewith in horizontal position to a predetermined elevation in the region of the bench 14 at which time the gears 29 on the carrier 26 mesh with the rack bars 35) and are rotated thereby as the carriage continues its upward movement thereby turning the carrier 26 and the pan d5 about the axis of the shaft 28 to a vertical position and causing the piece parts to be discharged from the pan 15 onto the work bench 14. A U-sh aped strap 68 (FIG. 2) is secured to the upper portion of the frame Ztl above the bench 1 4 in a position to prevent the pan 15 from turning too far and tipping over onto the work bench 14.

After the piece parts are removed from the pan 15, the manually operated motor control switch is operated to actuate the motor 62 in the reverse direction and eifect the return movement of the elevator carriage 2 to its lower position. During the initial portion of the downward movement of the elevator ca riage the carrier 26 is returned from the vertical to a horizontal position as the gears 2 9 are rotated by the rack bars Bil. As the carrier 26 turns about the shaft 28, the pan 15 is manually held thereagainst until the carrier has turned sufiiciently from the vertical position to support the pan thereon. If desired, a latch may be provided on the carrier to releasably hold the pan onto the carrier during return movement from tilted to horizontal position.

It is to be understood that the above-described arrangements are simply illustrative of the application of the principles of this invention. Numerous other arrangements may be readily devised by those skilled in the art which will embody the principles of the invention and fall within the spirit and scope thereof.

What is claimed is:

1. A device for emptying the contents of containers onto a work bench comprising a stationary frame positioned adjacent to the work bench and including a lower base member, an upper horizontal frame member, and four vertically disposed tubular guides extending between said base and said upper frame members at the corners thereof with each of said tubular guides having a longitudinal slot therein; an elevator carriage including tubular elements slidable within said tubular guides, a pair of parallel side plates, each of said side plates interconnecting a pair of said tubular elements and extending through the slots in said tubular guides, a cross member interconnecting said pair of side plates adjacent to one pair of said tubular guides, and a shaft extending transversely of and journalled in said side plates adjacent to the other pair of tubular guides; a carrier fixedly connected at one end thereof to said shaft and supported by said shaft and said cross member in a normal horizontal position on said carriage, said carrier including a pair of side members parallel to said side plates of said carriage, a plurality of rollers extending transversely between and rotatably supported on said side members in a horizontal row for supporting a container thereon, an end plate extending transversely between said side members adjacent to said shaft and extending upwardly above the upper surface of the row of rollers for limiting the movement of the container on said carrier in one direction, and a pair of gears fixedly connected to said shaft; a pair of rack bars mounted on a pmr of said tubular guides above and in the path of movement of said gears with said carriage in a lower position; chains connected to said tubular elements and extending upwardly therefrom within said tubular guides; and selectively operable mews mounted on said upper horizontal frame plate for actuating said chainsto raise and lower said carriage to and from a normal lower position at a level below the work bench and an upper position above said work bench; the arrangement being such that during the latter portion of the upward movement of said carriage said gears engage and are actuated by said rack bars to effect the turning of said carrier and the container thereon from a horizontal to a tilted position.

2. A device for emptying the contents of containers onto a work bench comprising ,a stationary frame positioned adjacent the work bench and including a lower rectangular base member, an upper horizontal frame member, and four vertically disposed tubular guides extending between said base and said upper frame member at the corners thereof with each of said tubular guides having a longitudinal slot therein; an elevator carriage s-lidably mounted on said tubular guides and including slide elements slidable within said tubular guides, a pair of parallel side plates, each of said side plates interconnecting a pair of said slide elements and extending through the slots in said tubular guides, a cross member interconnectin said pair of side plates adjacent to one pair of said tubular guides, and a shaft extending transwersely of and journalled in said side plates adjacent to the other pair of tubular guides; a carrier fixedly connected at one end thereof to said shaft and supported by said shaft and said cross member on said carriage in a normal horizontal position, said carrier including a pair of side members disposed parallel to the side plates of said carriage, a plurality of rollers extending transversely between and rotatably supported on said side members in a horizontal row for supporting a container thereon, an end plate extending transversely between said side members adjacent to said shaft and extending upwardly above the upper surface of said rollers for limiting the movement of the container on said carriage in one direction, and a pair of gears fixedly connected to said shaft; a pair of rack bars mounted on a pair of said tubular guides above and in the path of movement of said gears when the carriage is in a lower position; a pair of sprockets rotatably supported on said upper frame; chains individual to said slide elements connected at one end to said elements and connected at the other end to said sprockets in pairs and in diametrically opposed relation to one another; means for guiding said chains upwardly through said tubular guides and onto said sprockets; and selectively operable drive means including a reversible motor supported on sm'd upper frame plate for rotating said sprockets; the arrangement being such that during the latter portion of the upward movement of said carriage said gears engage and are rotated by said rack bars to effect the turning of said carrier and the container thereon from a horizontal to a vertical position.

3. An elevating and tipping device comprising a frame means including a base and four tubular guides each extending upwardly from said base and having a longitudinal slot therein; an elevator carriage including elements slidable within said tubular guides and normally resting on said base for supporting said carriage, a pair of parallel side plates each interconnecting a pair of said elements and extending through the slots in said tubular guides, at cross member intercormeoting said pair of side plates adjacent to a pair of said tubular guides, and a shaft extending transversely of and journalled in said side plates adjacent to the other pair of said tubular guides; a carrier supported on said shaft for pivotal movement about the axis thereof and supported by said shaft and said cross member in a normal horizontal position on said carriage for supporting a container thereon, a gear mounted on said shaft in fixed relation to said carrier for pivotal movement therewith; a rack bar fixedly mounted on one of said tubular guides above and in the path of movement of said gear when said carriage is in a normal lower position with said elements resting on said 5 6 base, chains connected to said elements and extending up- Refel'ellces Cifed in 1 6 file Of this Patfiflt wardly therefrom, and means for actuating said chains to UNITED STATES PATENTS raise said carriage from the normal lower position to a 1 763 560 ,Amendolara June 1930 predetermined upper position to cause the carrier to be 2:671:571 Gerhardt MEL 1954 raised in a horizontal position for a predetermined dis- 5 2,372,053 Doepke et 1 3, 1959 tance and to cause the gear to engage said rack and to 2,908,410 GLanz Oct. 13, 1959 efiect the rotation of the carrier to a. tilted position. 3,040,919 Nolan June 26, 1962 

3. AN ELEVATING AND TIPPING DEVICE COMPRISING A FRAME MEANS INCLUDING A BASE AND FOUR TUBULAR GUIDES EACH EXTENDING UPWARDLY FROM SAID BASE AND HAVING A LONGITUDINAL SLOT THEREIN; AN ELEVATOR CARRIAGE INCLUDING ELEMENTS SLIDABLE WITHIN SAID TUBULAR GUIDES AND NORMALLY RESTING ON SAID BASE FOR SUPPORTING SAID CARRIAGE, A PAIR OF PARALLEL SIDE PLATES EACH INTERCONNECTING A PAIR OF SAID ELEMENTS AND EXTENDING THROUGH THE SLOTS IN SAID TUBULAR GUIDES, A CROSS MEMBER INTERCONNECTING SAID PAIR OF SIDE PLATES ADJACENT TO A PAIR OF SAID TUBULAR GUIDES, AND A SHAFT EXTENDING TRANSVERSELY OF AND JOURNALLED IN SAID SIDE PLATES ADJACENT TO THE OTHER PAIR OF SAID TUBULAR GUIDES; A CARRIER SUPPORTED ON SAID SHAFT FOR PIVOTAL MOVEMENT ABOUT THE AXIS THEREOF AND SUPPORTED BY SAID SHAFT AND SAID CROSS MEMBER IN A NORMAL HORIZONTAL POSITION ON SAID CARRIAGE FOR SUPPORTING A CONTAINER THEREON, A GEAR MOUNTED ON SAID SHAFT IN FIXED RELATION TO SAID CARRIER FOR PIVOTAL MOVEMENT THEREWITH; A RACK BAR FIXEDLY MOUNTED ON ONE OF SAID TUBULAR GUIDES ABOVE AND IN THE PATH OF MOVEMENT OF SAID GEAR WHEN SAID CARRIAGE IS IN A NORMAL LOWER POSITION WITH SAID ELEMENTS RESTING ON SAID BASE, CHAINS CONNECTED TO SAID ELEMENTS AND EXTENDING UPWARDLY THEREFROM, AND MEANS FOR ACTUATING SAID CHAINS TO 